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About

Steve Swanson is an education researcher whose work sits at the intersection of STEM education, robotics, and computational thinking, with a particular focus on engaging elementary-aged students in meaningful, hands-on learning experiences. His most influential contribution, "Elementary School Student Development of STEM Attitudes and Perceived Learning in a STEM Integrated Robotics Curriculum" (2019), has garnered 109 citations and established him as a leading voice in understanding how integrated robotics programs shape young learners' attitudes toward STEM disciplines. Swanson has been involved in National Science Foundation-funded research exploring innovative pedagogical strategies, including his adaptation of the Understand/Use-Modify-Create (U²MC) framework for afterschool robotics curricula designed to cultivate computational thinking as early as second grade. His work consistently emphasizes equity and accessibility, bringing structured STEM experiences to students through afterschool programming. More recently, Swanson has expanded his research portfolio into emerging technologies, exploring mixed reality applications for robot and rover manipulation, signaling a forward-looking trajectory in educational technology. Across his body of work, he demonstrates a sustained commitment to building STEM pipelines from the ground up, empowering elementary students with the conceptual tools and positive dispositions needed for future scientific and technological engagement.